Rail joint



w. T. BURKHALTER ET AL RAIL JOINT Oct. 4,1927. 1,644,235

Filed'Nov. 22. 1925 v INVENTORS. I M/ TfiurK/m/zer QVJ Sir/ 0M7 I aygim ATTORNEY of the rail.

UNITED STATES Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

WILLIAM T. BURKHALTER AND JOHN STRIPLING, OF REIDSVILLE, GEORGIA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in rail joints of that type in which the meeting ends of rails are provided with interlocking means to hold the rails in alinement and against lateral displacement with relation to each other.

It has for its object the provision of a oint of this type that is efiicient in its purpose and will withstand heavy traffic. It consists of a oint of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claim, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a rail joint embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the joint members separated.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 and 11 designate rails of the usual construction,

except as to their abutting ends, which are formed to provide the interlocking joint. On the end of the rail 10 is formed the offset block 12 with its forward face flush with the end face of the rail. At the forward part of the block is the lateral extension 13 and projecting rearwardly from the lateral extension is the arm 14 in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the rail and in spaced relation to the side of the rail.

On the end of the other rail 11 is formed the offset block 15, projecting laterally from the rail and extending forward from the end of the rail. The plane at the end of the rail is continued into the block to provide a contact surface that matches the end of the rail 10 and its block 12. Extending forwardly from the body of the block 15 is the arm 16 in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis At the forward end of the arm 16 is the lateral extension 17 and the rearward extension 18. The arm 16 and the rearward extension 18 are in parallel spaced relation with the intervening space of the same width as the arm 14. The length of the intervening space, between the lateral extension 17 and the plane of the surface at the end of the rail, is slightly greater than the length of the arm 14.

The sides and ends of the several parts of both blocks and their respective rails are in 22, 1926. Serial No. 150,098.

spaces between the ends of the arms 14 and 18 and surfaces of the block opposite to said ends, and also by the space between the ends of the rails. The ends of the rails meet over a tie (not shown) and are held by spikes 19 driven through the slots 20 in the flanges of the rails into the tie. The slots are elongated to permit longitudinal movement of the rails with relation to the spikes.

As each block of the joint extends through the base, web and head of its rail, the interlocking joint provides a substantial structure.

that will withstand the wear of heavy traffic. Also, the blocks are on the outer side of the rails so that the joint cannot contact with the flanges of passing wheels.

lV-hat we claim is:

1. A rail joint comprising rails with interlocking members at their meeting ends.

to one side of the rails, one of said members comprising a blockwith its top surface in substantially the same plane with the top surface of the rail and offset from the end of one of the rails, said block comprising a lateral extension at its forward part and an arm projecting rearwardly from the lateral extension in spaced parallel relation to the rail; the other of said interlocking members comprisinga second block with its top surface substantially in the same plane with the to surface of the rail offset from the end 0 the other rail, said second block and adjoining rail having an end face to match the end face of the other rail and block, said second block having a forwardly extending arm parallel to the longitudinal axis of the adjoining rail and having a lateral extension at the forward end of the arm with a rearward extension at the end of the lateral extension, said arms and extensions being to one side of the rails, said blocks having the sides and ends of their parts vertically ar ranged so that one member can be moved downwardly to engage the other member.

2. A rail joint comprising a rail having an oifset extending beyond its end said offset having-an inward thence rearward extension and entirely to one side of the rail and with its top surface in substantially the same plane as the top surface of a rail, a second rail with its end adapted to fit in the angle made by the offset of the first rail, said second rail also having an offset, said offset having an outward, thence a rearward extension and interlocking with the first mentioned offset, the interlocking parts being to one side of the rails and there being suitablespaces left between the ends of the rails and the oii'sets to allow for the normal expansion and contraction of the rails.

3. A rail joint comprising a rail having an offset extending beyond its end and entirely to one side of the rail and with its top surface in substantially the same plane as the top surface of the rail, said ofiset having a flange at its bottom also extending beyond the end of the rail and overlapping the end ofa second rail, a second rail with its end adapted to lit in the angle made by the offset of the first rail said second rail also having an oilset extending to one side of the rail and interlocking With the first mentioned ofi'set, the interlock being to one side of the rails and on one side of said second rail and a flange on the other side of said second rail, there being suitable spaces" left between the ends of the rails and the offset to allow for the normal traction of the rails.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. 1 7

WILLIAM T. BUBKHALTER, JQHN STRIP'LING,

expansion and coni 

